Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/712

 THE GARDEN 686 and their foliage looks nice at all times. For flowers trj^ geraniums, heliotrope, calceo- laria, verbena. London Pride, wallflowers, nasturtiums, sweet- peas. As a screen in summer or to hang down over vases, sow tropaeDhim canariense. Carnations, too, are easily grown in bowls if they are given good drainage. I mean those rather large, open pottery dishes with a lining of green glaze. Put a few short sticks, taken from your pea boughs, to support the flowers in the centre, and allow the others to hang over the edge. If the Italian oil-jars are liked, they can be procured through me, and I will gladly send particulars to any reader who writes to the Principal of the Glynde School for Lady Gardeners, Sussex. It is so pleasant, when living possibly in the surroundings of a somewhat cold or gloomy atmosphere, with sombre smuts descending, or yellow winter fogs lurking near, to surround oneself with a few memories of foreign lands, to recall, perhaps, clear summer evenings spent upon a similar little piazza, maybe at Siena or some other Italian town, to pave the little floor in places with coloured Dutch tiles, and think of Haarlem where they come from. It is this note of personal interest that A simple summef'house for a roof garden. Climbing roses are trained over it, and if shade is required it can be lined with straw mats lends charm to gardens large or small, roof garden or earth garden, water garden or sun- parched slope. Some day, when other expenses are less and the roof garden has been started, it will be even possible to arrange perhaps a tiny fountain in the midst. The sound of running water, be it ever .so small, the little tinkling noise of it falling is so cool and re- freshing, and takes one South at once to Spain or Italy. But in this case it will be safe only if the landlord is agreeable to an increase in his water rate ! It should be mentioned that tree carnations can be treated as hardy border plants, and in well-drained soils, fairly rich and light, they will make a beautiful display in summer. Treatment of Pests Pests of the rust and spot variety can rarely be treated with any great effect. Spraying with a weak solution of sulphate of ammonia and copper may be tried, or dusting the plants with lime and .sulphur in damp weather, when spraying is unsafe. Paris-green and sugar dropped on the benches will get rid of woodlice, which feed on carnation leaves. Ants can be destroyed in the same way. PERPETUAL FLOWERING CARNATIOH^ w Ccntimted from fa HEN April comes, the plants can suitably be placed in a cold frame, having a fall of six inches from back to front. Here the pots may be stood on a bed of. clean coal-ashes. Except when there is frost or rain, the frames should remain uncovered. Do not let the plants stand far apart ; the leaves should only just clear each other. They will thus be less affected by winds, and the foliage will afford cooling shade to the roots. How to Stake The carnations should not require staking before August. Be careful to put in the bamboo stake at the centre of pot and at the back of the plant, and to push it down to the bottom. Tie the bast to the bamboo, and then to the stem, two inches or so above the soil. A thick piece of raffia may be used higher up, and the strands split out to secure the shoots as required. The main stem should not grow thicker after August, but be careful to allow for growth in the shoots. Watering and spraying must be attended to constantly. Three times daily the plants should be looked over, and, in addition to this, the ground around the frames should be damped, in order to encourage a moist atmosphere. Feeding with a weak solution, either of natural or artificial manure, can be practised at regular intervals as an encouragement. Housing: the Carnations By the end of August the plants should be taken into the greenhouse again. Early housing will cause them to produce much longer stems than would be the case out of doors. Early housing also lessens the chance of thrip and other pests preying upon the carnations during a hot summer, and also induces early flowering. The house should be evenly heated, a mild temperature being maintained, so that the plants are not weakened by forcing. From the middle of October onwards, carnations should be ready for conserva- tory decoration. Up to this time — indeeci, throughout the entire cultivation — the greatest care should be exercised in the matter of cleanliness, including weeding and stirring up the soil of pots. At a time when plants which have flowered are taking a slight rest, no stimulating food must, of course, be given. Care must be taken to keep the greenhouse cool and wholesome in the dull days of December. Propagate only from well-matured shoots, I